Sister, brother say Hess family is 'completely traumatized'

SEABROOK — Cassandra Clifton, the sister of Darriean Hess, reacted outside the courtroom Wednesday after Hess was ordered to be held on $50,000 cash or bond, indicating the family would have difficulty meeting that requirement.

SEABROOK — Cassandra Clifton, the sister of Darriean Hess, reacted outside the courtroom Wednesday after Hess was ordered to be held on $50,000 cash or bond, indicating the family would have difficulty meeting that requirement.

“We really don't know what we're going to do right now. … We're not doing well at all,” she said, noting that only five members of her family are on the East Coast and able to support Darriean.

Hess' attorney, public defender Tony Naro, argued against the state's request of $50,000 cash bail, saying the family wouldn't be able to pay that amount and Hess has no prior criminal record. He hoped to reduce it to $15,000 cash or bond, an amount he said the family could raise if they all pooled their resources together.

“These aren't rich people,” Naro said of the family.

Judge Mark Weaver said because of the seriousness of Hess' crimes and the potential flight risk — she has family in Alaska — he maintained the $50,000 amount, though he did add the option of corporate surety bond.

Clifton denied that Hess is a flight risk.

“She can hardly walk. She just wants to be with her family, that's all, but we don't know if that's going to happen because the bail is at $50,000,” she said.

As evidence that Hess isn't a flight risk, Naro said, that she'd spent nearly every minute since the crash Saturday at home in Seabrook, where she was eventually arrested Tuesday afternoon.

“She left once to go to the store with family members to get some food because she hasn't been eating,” Naro said.

He also stated that Hess has been living with her fiancee in Seabrook.

He said if Hess were to make bail, the defense would agree to have her placed under house arrest.

“I'm not talking a curfew, judge, I'm just talking about literally house arrest where she can't leave her home,” Naro said.

He added: “She's not going to get behind the wheel of a car soon, if ever. She's absolutely traumatized.”

Naro read off several court cases from New Hampshire in 2013 that he suggested were similar to Hess', as well as their bail amounts, which were mostly lower than $50,000, except in one instance.

Weaver said the $50,000 cash or bond that he ordered was “similar to one of the cases” Naro cited, and also ordered that Hess not commit a crime, possess a weapon, use drugs or alcohol, or drive, or else she'll face further punishment.

Hampton prosecutor Barry Newcomb initially argued for the $50,000 amount, saying Hess is “a risk to public safety” and a flight risk because of her family in Alaska.

After the judge's decision, Magnus Hess, Darriean's brother, said, "Our entire family is completely traumatized and we mourn for the people that were lost in this tragedy and we also pray for the ones that are injured."